Koosharem Dec 27, 1955 Dear Sons and Daughters and Sons and Daughters-in-law. I sure enjoyed your letters and since hearing mother read them I have had many things come to my mind. In the first place I want to welcome all of our in-laws into our family, because I think they are one with us and what I say to one is meant for all. I am just thinking my time is not much longer on this old earth. And now while I have a chance to write to all of you in only one letter I am going to take the advantage of it. While I have been sitting around not doing much, I have had time to look back over my past life and I find that I am short of what I could be to receive all of the blessings that has been promised to me. One condition that I keep all of the commandments the Lord has given. We have been told that the father is the Patriarch of his own family, and it is his duty to sit the right example before them and teach them the gospel. I have always said that I think example is the best teacher. I have tried in my weak way to set an example for them to follow. Now what I want to do is to leave a few thoughts with you to help you put over in your own lives. And a few words of advice (as a father) for yourselves and for the teaching of your own children. You are the head of your own family and it is up to you to take over where I leave off. First examine your own past lives and see if you have done all you could of done to make you worthy of the Lord's best blessings. Learn all you can about the gospel by study and by going to all of the meetings to learn more. Read the church books and do not spend much time reading stories and things that is not much good to you. Think of your self first and then set the right example for your children. One thought: Say come all of you children, let us all get ready and to Sunday School and all of the meetings you should attend to learn more of your duty. Always have prayer and the blessing on the food that you eat and do not forget to thank the Lord for his blessings. Do not forget to make it plane what the Priesthood means to your boys. As your

boys and girls grow older do not forget to teach them what it means to them to know what the temple is for, and what their blessing will be if they are worthy of being married in the temple is worth to them. One thing I and your mother is proud of is that all of you have been to the temple and we both have been thus with you. Do not think oh the Lord will not be hard on us and just give us a few strips for not keeping this commandment and we will be all right. Joseph Smith said if we ever get the higher blessings we will need to keep all of his commandments. Read and study D&C Sec 76 and see how near you are ready to reach the highest blessings. For me there is only one way for you to get near the tip is to do a lot of repentance, and live a much better life than what I have. If it was not for repentance, I do not think vary many would get all the blessings that is ours if we live for them. Do not forget your tithes and offerings. This could be the last time that I can give you my advice. So may the Lord bless all of you and help all of you to live the life he would like to have all of his sons and daughters to live. Read this with the spirit. I love writing. With love from the bottom of my heart, Your Father Sisson J. Hatch Dec. 31, 1955 P.S. Since I wrote my letter I have been thinking of a few things more I wanted to say. Fist I think all of you Sons and Daughters should be about as near the best as could be. I think you have from Hugh down one of the best all around mothers that ever lived. At least I think I only wish I could measure up to their standard, mother about all of you and wonders if you are living as good as you could. One more thing I want to call your attention to is try this start in the first month and look over a few conditions and see what you should do both your church duties and your family, then always do first first. After that start out and see what should be took care of first, always do

first first, never let first be last. If you do you are always behind with your work. One more and I will quit. You are the teachers of your children, train them as early in life as you can, learn them to mind their parents and do it with kindness and love. Never speak loud and brass to a child Always be firm with them and see how soon they will do as you want them to. With love and best wishes and a prosperous New Year. Father and Sisson